LtDan's Qype profile

A fun little Indian fusion joint. Tiny but very cozy, and with nice staff. The food is all about sharing-sized portions; in my two visits I’ve tried nearly everything on the menu, and have yet to try something I didn’t like. Some, like the shrimp vindaloo or malai kofta, were superb. The naan is a little thin, but tasty enough.

They’re known for their fancy cocktails, which I eschew in favour of good old dependable Kingfisher, but friends seem to enjoy them. They have a reasonable wine selection as well.

This is an ideal spot for a casual dinner with friends after shopping your face off on Queen West.

This isn’t the kind of place you’d happen upon; apart from an unobtrusive awning and special-dealing sandwich board out front, you wouldn’t know it’s there. C’est What lives in a cellar, down a flight of steps from the south side of Front Street.

Those in the know, however, come here for the microbrews, whisky and food more interesting than you’d expect to find in a pub. Vegetarians flock here for the rich choices -- as I did during my veggie stint -- but meat lovers have plenty to choose from as well. Back to the beer: lots of Ontario and Quebec microbrews, as well as some house specialties. No Stella or Keith’s on tap here, thank god.

There are pool tables in one section, live music in another, a fireplace here, TVs there. Several separate rooms create the feeling of different pubs in one space, so you can find a spot that suits your mood.

Holy sweet (ha ha) mother of god. This is Toronto’s temple of chocolate. Bars, giant bars, truffles, hot chocolate (unlike the hot chocolate you’re used to, believe me), gelato, cookies…there’s a stupid amount of sugary miracle packed into this one little shop.

If you’re wandering around the Distillery District in the summer, stop in for some gelato. If it’s the dead of winter, go for their Mayan hot chocolate. Feel the delicious, delicious burn.

First, and most importantly: the cuts of meat at Cumbrae’s are spectacular. Expensive, yes, but worth every penny.

Second: they use local, naturally-raised livestock.

Third: the decor in this place is not at all what you’d expect from a butcher. I’d actually like to do my living room like this place. Rich dark wood, spotlessly clean, lots of friendly staff who give great recommendations.

Fourth: the vast amount of specialty foods (ostrich! boar!) and prepared foods will round out your meal…except for the vegetable bit, maybe. Lots of pastas, meat pies, packaged sausages, and so on.

Most people flock to M0851 (formerly known as Rugby North America) for their leather goods: jackets, bags, purses, etc. While my wife and I have bought our fair share of bags there, I tend to go back for the clothes. Like their bags, their clothes are simple, clean, classic and comfortable. When first entering the store can seem cold and snooty, but the staff are actually really friendly and laid back.

They have other stores in Montreal (the original), Vancouver, New York, Paris, Antwerp and Taipei.

My wife and I arrived early to have a drink at the bar. Best way to start the night off right for patrons: make their first drinks big ones. My Oban on the rocks was enough for two, and my wife’s glass of Cabernet Franc was a solid one. Just as we were wondering if we should check in for our table, a server collected us and brought us into the main room. Both it and the bar are really quite nice, a good mix of polish and vibrancy.

Before I get to the food, I have to mention the service. At Splendido (David Lee’s other restaurant) the service is as much part of the meal as the food, and they take care of you in every way possible. Nota Bene was slightly different: while the service was still excellent, it seemed like they were trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible, and let the food speak for itself. Servers, the sommelier, plate runners…we must have had a dozen different people come by the table, and never for more than a few seconds. If someone saw our wine glasses were half empty, they’d stop and pour, even if they’d never been to our table. The sommelier picked up my card and brought it to the station. It never felt rushed (the meal was 2.5 hours; how could it?), just efficient. It’s a tough balance to strike, but I appreciated it.

Now then, the food: I had the mozzarella di bufala w/ sundried tomato, grilled radicchio & olive oil to start; the grilled rock cornish hen w/ rosemary, lemon & bacon; and the flourless chocolate fudge cake w/ dulce de leche ice cream for dessert. My wife had the mafalda pasta w/ truffle-scented mushroom bolognese to start; the Mediterranean sea bass w/ forest mushrooms, potato gnocchi & basil pesto; and the small cheese plate (and Tawny port) for dessert. Well, she thought it would be small, but they brought three fairly large hunks of cheese for her enjoyment. One was roquefort, one beemster extra old and the other was…well, she can’t remember, but she seemed happy with it. This whole affair (after my initial glass of Okanagan Meritage and my wife’s glass of Prosecco) was washed down with a bottle of 2007 Tenuta Maiolo Campania Lugana, a recommendation from the sommelier, and one that worked quite well.

The food was, as expected, exquisite. I can’t speak for my wife, but my appetizer was delicious, my main was perfectly sized and seasoned (bacon + green beans…who knew that combination worked?!?) and my dessert was absurd. All things considered — food, service and the relatively low cost compared to similar dining experiences I’ve had elsewhere — it was a fantastic meal, one I’ll surely repeat.

This is no hole-in-the-wall Indian take-out joint. This is a beautiful room owned by two sommeliers, serving fare more fusion than traditional. The butter chicken and lobster dish are standouts, as are the various flavours of naan and the spiced brownie for dessert. It’s all well-paired with the wines on hand as well.

Even if Indian’s nothing new for you, this one’s worth a try for the different experience.

In the oldest part of Toronto you’ll find one of the best markets in the world (according to Food & Wine Magazine): St. Lawrence Market.

The south market has too many merchants to name, but you’ll find all manner of meat, baked goods, produce, seafood, crafts, wine and condiments on both floors. My favourites are Domenic’s fish market, St. Urbain bagels (the most Montreal-ish bagel place in Toronto) and White House Meats. Some people go to the south market just to get a peameal bacon sandwich. If you don’t know what that is, just try one.

The north market (across Front Street, on the NW corner of Front & Jarvis) is typically used for private functions during the week, but on Saturday is a busy farmer’s market. Fantastic local produce, cheese, meats and baked goods are everywhere in here, and at great prices. On Sundays the north market is an antique market, but every time I walk by it just looks like tacky crap. To each their own, I suppose.

If you decide to go to the south market, check the hours on the website first. It closes early during the week, and doesn’t open at all on Sunday or Monday. The best time to go is during the day Tue-Fri; if you have to go on Saturday, go early. It gets busy by 9AM and crazy by 10AM. The farmer’s market in the north building is pretty much out of steam by early afternoon.

Really like this place. Cool, well-made (and yes, pricey) clothes that aren’t flashy, and favour quality over trendiness. Eclectic mix of designer clothes, basic clothes and art.

If you hate tripping over hipsters on your way to buy clothes on Queen West, this is a good place for you. Search for 'em on Facebook. It’s a good way to hear about sales and new stock.

BBR isn’t Future Shop…and thank god for that. Yeah, they’re expensive, but here’s what you get for your extra 15%: top-notch service, actual electronics expertise, free delivery & setup, a competent service/repair department, and nobody trying to sell you their special extended warranty offer. It’s worth it. If you’re buying a simple commodity-type product (like an iPod) that doesn’t take much thought, you can find one cheaper. If you’re unsure of exactly what you want and need advice, go here.